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Just a scoop full(June 18)--Harvest is in full swing in our area. To the east, they are receiving rain which is slowing down harvest. To the west, it is extremely dry and needs a rain desperately. It is amazing how it can be that wet to the east and that dry not very far to the west. In the farming and cattle business our livelihood and financial well-being depends so much on moisture. You can make all the right decisions but, if you are in a drought for a very long period, you soon run out of options. The one salvation those to the west have is that green grass is not terribly far away. Thus the market is a lot better than if an even bigger area is dry. We are receiving cows from the drought area each week. I hate for anyone to have to sell cattle because of a drought. With feed being higher than we have had for a lot of years, it makes it impossible to full feed cows for very long. You would soon eat up what the cows were worth in feed costs. You can learn a lot by starting your day at the coffee shop each morning. Sometimes you can learn what not to do. This morning, I was told how to be a farmer or rancher and become a millionaire. The easier way to do that is to have started out as a billionaire. The other day I picked up all four boys. The youngest who is 6 years old said, "Dad, you're the greatest dad in the whole wide world." Then the 8-year-old said the exact same thing. So then I put my hand up to my ear and looked at the 12-year-old and 14-year-old boys. It was complete silence. So, I cleared my throat to get their attention again. But still, complete silence. I soon saw an older rancher and said to him what had been said. We both agreed two out of four isn't bad odds. Editor's Note: Jerry Nine, Woodward, Okla., is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family's ranch near Laverne, Okla. 6/23/08 Date: 6/18/08
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